Pastoral Letter 05 Mar 2023

My dear readers,


Answering Remaining Questions from Calvary Pandan Church Camp 2022 (5)

Question 1: Dear Rev Quek, I believe that in the course of your pastoral work, members come to you for counselling on relationship problems, spiritual challenges, amongst other issues. Do you share this information that was shared to you with your family members especially now that you have extended family members? If you do, are you allowed to do so?

Answer 1: The biblical principle in counselling is to glorify God by helping the counselee to draw closer to Christ or to return to Christ depending on the issue. The BOE has to know what is shared as the BOE is the final authority. Bible-based counsel is given to help the counselee. On a case-by-case basis, all issues are dealt with to God's glory. If the case does not involve the pastor’s family members, the pastor will be involved. If the case involves the pastor’s family members, then the pastor will not be involved and an elder will be the counsellor to help all parties concerned. Confidentiality is obviously the guide.

Question 2: In many countries, preaching the gospel is illegal. If we are not careful, it can trigger persecutions. What is our attitude as Christians in carrying out the great commission? Should we avoid preaching the gospel to the ones who told us that they do not want the gospel.

Answer 2: Thank God for His grace and mercies in allowing Christians in Singapore to worship, preach the gospel and study God’s Word freely and in peace. However, in some countries this is against the law of the land. God’s servants must always be prepared to suffer for Christ’s sake, i.e. for the testimony of His blessed name and for the Word of God. This privilege is for every truly born-again believer. Philippians 1:27-30: “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” 

The gospel must never be forcibly presented against the will of the sinner. If he does not want to hear the gospel, the teaching from Christ is clear. We move on to share the gospel with others who desire to hear. To believers, the gospel is the power of God to save. Therefore, we know the importance of sharing the gospel that is according to Holy Scriptures. However, to the people of the world like the Jews and the Greeks who reject the gospel, it is a stumbling block to the former and foolishness to the latter. 1 Corinthians 1:22-25: “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

Be not afraid of death. Matthew 10:22-31: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

Question 3: If we're not supposed to speak ill of government, or point out mistakes, how do we hold them accountable in a democratic system of governance?

Answer 3: To speak ill of government is a sin for the child of God, for there is no power or authority over God's children other than the ones whom God has appointed. To speak ill of them is to speak ill of God. Romans 13:1-7: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

Can the government ever be perfect? It is impossible for any government to be perfect because the people who run them include sinners, even when they rule according to the governance ordained by God like in King David’s time. Are children of God permitted to point out the mistakes of the leaders? Of course, they are permitted to do so but in a manner that is according to Scriptures and within the law of the land. They do not have to vote for any leader whom they feel is not doing his work justly and equitably. Once the leaders are elected into power, or in some countries where dictators rule like in the time of the Roman Empire when the New Testament was written, God's children must submit to them and bear the consequences of their submission.

Many of God’s children were commanded not to preach the gospel at all, like in the early days of the founding of the church, but they obeyed God and not man. When they were caught, they were martyred for their faith. 1 Peter 2:13-17: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”



Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,
Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew
Advisory Pastor


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